Nicole Kidman's tribute to mum

Nicole Kidman has paid tribute to her "wonderfully opinionated" mother for encouraging her to find her voice, while picking up two gongs at this year's InStyle Women of Style Awards.

Kidman triumphed over Claudia Karvan and Jessica Rowe to be voted winner of the news or entertainment category and was also selected for the reader's choice gong at the ceremony in Sydney on Tuesday night.

The 42-year-old actress was unable to attend the event because she is filming Just Go With It with Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler in Hawaii.

But she did record a special video message that was played to guests, including her sister Antonia and mother Janelle.

"I grew up in a family of women who are very strong and wonderfully opinionated," Kidman said, blowing kisses to her sister who had not been aware of her win before the event.

"My mother was such a huge influence on me, and my education.

"She encouraged me to have a voice and ultimately to give back, so to then be recognised for that makes me very, very proud. It's something I want to continue doing."

Kidman said she believed it was important that women collaborate and honour each other, working together as a collective to achieve change, as she is with her work at the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

And to be stylish, she said, was not to compromise.

"Style means having a voice, it means not compromising who you are because of what people say; it means standing proud, and knowing that that sometimes you are going to go in and out of fashion, but still, staying true to yourself," Kidman said, adding she was enjoying her role as a mother.

"Right now I'm very much in a place of nurturing: I love my family, I love being able to take care of my family and I've worked hard so that I can do that."

InStyle editor Kerrie McCallum said Kidman represented what it meant to be at the forefront of Australian style.

"With a career spanning over 25 years, and featuring in more than 30 films, Nicole Kidman is simply an iconic Australian female,'' McCallum said in a statement.

"An international star, Australia's only winner of a Best Actress Oscar, a passionate charity campaigner, a proud wife and a working mother of three - Nicole Kidman juggles all roles with charm, timeless style and a unique sense of intrigue."

Other winners included designer Kirrily Johnston in the fashion category and Deborra-Lee Furness in the charity and community category.